100-Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel for RV's, Boats and 12-V Systems

Going by the dimensions you gave for your solar panel, I would say you have the old polycrystalline version. For some unknown reason, Grape Solar came out with a new monocrystalline panel but gave it the same product number which is not very smart.

The listed dimensions for the 100-Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel are 31.89" L x 28.15" W x 1.38" H. These dimensions are confirmed in the product specifications. It's possible the dimensions of 40" x 26.4" that you have may be for a different model or version of the GS-STAR-100W panel.

Hi Laurie, Yes, this panel may provide enough power for your landscape lighting, but you will also need a charge controller and deep cycle storage battery. We offer complete solar kits of various sizes which include controllers and cables. You will need to find out how much power the lighting uses per day in Wh (Watt hours), then purchase a 12V deep cycle battery with enough capacity to power the lights. (Example: your lighting uses 100Wh daily - 100Wh÷12V=8.33Ah battery capacity required) If you choose a lead-acid type battery (less expensive), it will need to have double the required capacity, since lead-acid batteries should not be discharged any further than 50%. If you choose a LiFePO4 battery, you only need an extra 20% capacity, since this battery type can be discharged 80% safely. A single 100W panel can produce about 400Wh of power per sunny day, which is enough to charge a 30 to 40Ah battery.

Greetings, Grape Solar's off grid solar cells are rated grade B. - Kamau

Generally it will depend on how you set things up and how many panels you have. I use 4 and charge batteries, the batteries in turn power an inverter for lights and one outlet. Check online for more detailed information on how to set solar for off grid use. More panels equal more current, faster charge. More batteries equals longer run time and the more you can power.

Yes you need to get a inverter rated at the watts you need

Hi Robert, yes, it is possible to use this panel to power electrical outlets and lighting. However, you would likely need many panels to produce enough power for all potential usage. A single 100W panel can power small loads, such as minimal LED lighting, mobile devices, fans, wifi routers, etc. Larger loads, such as heaters, TVs, Air Conditioners, Refrigerators, etc. will require multiple panels. How many depends entirely on your particular situation. Powering A/C devices also requires the use of an inverter. If you are looking to power an existing electrical panel, consulting with a licensed electrician is strongly recommended. This 100W solar panel is for off-grid use only. It cannot be connected to the power grid.

Basically, no. This panel only generates about 88watts when the sun shinning directly and strongly on the panel.  And that energy is not at standard voltage, it’s much lower. If you use this panel to charge a small battery (“solar generator”) such as a EcoFlow River you can plug in various items including LED lights. It takes this small panel about 5 hours in good sun to fully charge a 300wh River battery.   I used this panel on top of my van to charge the EcoFlow River. A small 5 cup coffee pot will drain the battery down to 20%. If all you want is LED lights and low power electronics, this set up will work. All you need is the panel, a battery and maybe extension cords. 

While not familiar with that power unit, solar panels just output the power, there are 12 volt, and with multiple panels in series or parallel you can either increase the voltage, or the amperage. That should accommodate what the power station needs.

Hi Eric, I checked the user manual on your Bluetti AC300 and it does have a cable that supports MC4 connection for up to 2 inputs. Each MPPT input can accept more one panel each for further expansion. https://grapesolar.com/wp-content/uploads/GS-STAR-100W.pdf Thank you, Mike Biron

Hi Marti - A single Grape Solar 100W panel can provide an average of 400W per day under full sun. This will vary depending on latitude, mounting angle, shade, and other factors. Whether this is enough to power an exterior light and battery charger will depend on the wattage of each device, and the number of hours per day each device is in use. If the light was 40W, being used 4 hours per day, it would use about 160W total per day. If the battery charger was 80W, being used 2 hours per day, it would also use about 160W per day. So, to power both, the solar system would need to provide at least 320W per day. In this case, a single 100W panel could theoretically power both devices.

As with most solar setups, you need a charge controller and a battery. While the panel itself can provide power the amount can vary greatly due to available light. Using a charge controller, it can charge a battery or bank of batteries and in turn provide current for a load, in this case a light. Keep in mind it's all at 12 volt unless you add more like an inverter. Then it gets more complicated. Suggest keeping it to 12 volt and use an LED light.

Hi Randy, Thanks for your question. The answer will depend primarily on the power requirements of your particular A/C unit in watt-hours. For example, a 15,000 BTU A/C unit running at 100% will require up to 1,500 watts per hour, or 1.5 kW. To run this unit with solar would require 1.5 kW of panels, which could be achieved as follows: 30 - 50W panels 15 - 100W panels 8 - 200W panels 4 - 370W panels This calculation assumes full direct sunlight, so if you need to run the A/C during cloudy conditions or at night, a sufficiently-sized battery storage system would also be required. Keeping the batteries charged while using the A/C could possibly create a need for additional panels, depending on the situation. Hope this is helpful. Grape support

No, not that I know of !!! When I received it, it had no instructions or cables to hook it up !!!

Yes, if are going to parallel them for a 12V system.. Since you have 8 panels I assume that you are going to use a charge controller that is able to handle over 40 amps (assuming 12 V at 5+ amp 100 Watt panels in parallel). Also use higher gauge cables since it over 40 amps total.

Most likely, yes. The panels come with 47.2” long cables complete with MC-IV connectors. Therefore, it depends on how they will be configured (in series, parallel or combined), as well as the distance for the Charge Controller or Batteries.

Yes, in a manner of speaking. "Positive and negative leads equipped with MC4-comparable connectors" Basically it's a quick connect and the other question would be series or parallel. More volts vs more amps. There are also charge controllers that are needed to charge batteries without backflow of current. This is a good way to go for off grid, backup power, or just to keep from running a generator. But do a little reading on it, plenty of websites and social media groups for answers. It'll save a bit of time and frustration.

Contact Grape Solor directly for the number of panels you can connect together and wiring gage size required. 1-877-264-1014

Yes and depends if you hook 2 in series for 24V strings

Hello, In most cases, the answer is yes. Any solar system will require a charge controller and a storage battery, and many users will also require a D/C to A/C inverter. Additional cables or connectors are required for: Battery connection Parallel panel configurations Extensions for panel arrays > 3ft from the controller How you configure 8 100W panels will depend on the input ratings of the charge controller you are using, as well as the mounting orientation of each panel. For more information, we recommend reviewing quick connect guides for our off grid kits here: https://grapesolar.com/products/kits/

In Series, No. In parallel, yes. Eight panels in parallel will give you some pretty serious current. The panels have a blocking diode so It will be pretty easy to connect them together.